Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Reaching out
By Marisa de Silva
“Reach Out II”, the sequel to “Reach Out I,” the sell out tsunami fundraiser concert held last month, is produced by Diliup Gabadamudalige and will feature some of Lanka’s talented young bands and solo artistes on February 25, at 7.00 p.m. at the John De Silva Memorial Theatre.

Differing from “Reach Out I” which featured both senior and amateur artistes, this will essentially be the youth’s contribution towards the post tsunami rebuilding effort.

The opening act for last month’s concert was a brother-sister duo (who had also lost their home to the tsunami) singing a song composed by one of Diliup’s students. One of their top priorities will be to build a house for them, said Diliup. This time’s show will open with a song sung by nine-year-old Sheramy Pilapitiya, about all the mothers who died in the tsunami, composed by her own mother.

The whole idea began after Diliup got a call from one of his student’s parents from Galle, telling him about the destruction caused by the tsunami. He had started working on it from the day after the tsunami itself. He composed the music and the lyrics for “We’re Calling The World”, (played often on the electronic media) sung by Gresha Schuilling and Shaun Perera, about global unity and thanking the world for all their help.

With many veterans in the industry such as Sohan and the X-periments, The Gypsies, Maxi Rozairo, Clifford Richards and Nirosha Virajini joining together in aid of the cause as well. In addition, Diliup didn’t have to incur much cost at all as nearly all services excluding transport was rendered free of charge, he said. This includes lights, sound, theatre charges etc., The same services are being given this time around as well. The Colombo Plaza (where Diliup plays regularly) too had been quite supportive and contributed generously towards his earlier concert, he said.

Popular contemporary artistes like Iraj with Ill Noize, CharlesMark, Dushyanth Weeraman (Showboat Karaoke Championship winner 2001), Gresha Schuilling and Watsala Gunatillake (Showboat Karaoke Championship winner 2002) will be joined by hip hop groups like Centigradz, Sixth Lane, Silent Project, Swastika and Shiraz and Rajiv. Up and coming semi-rock bands like Crash, Burn Out, and Still Water too will take the stage. Lanthra Perera, Capt. Ravi Meegamaarachchi and Eswar Kumar (both who will be releasing their albums soon) will add the finishing touch to the entire performance.

The bands will be playing mostly originals, but a few modern cover versions too will be a part of the evening’s entertainment. Tickets will be available at Majestic City, Fashion Optics – Flower Road, the John De Silva Theatre and at the entrance. “Reach Out II” is calling out to the youth to help rebuild our country.

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